Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/119

108 108 .A.NIMAL SAGAaiY. wMeh was several weeks hence. Don Eondrigo Maldorado was the 0^1 3er of the watch one night when at about the fourth watch, the natives thought to surprise the army; but Monte ever alert heard a strange and unusual noise. Had he been asked to define what it was, he could not have done so.; but even the prowling wild animals acted differently than usual; they knew there was some thing going on that was new for the night time; the wolves spoke in language which denoted they were disturbed; and Monte also heard the Indian dogs barking in unusual manner; then the birds and other game were restless; yet to the uninitiated, there was nothing starthng or strange about this condition of things. To him who makes a study of such matters, it was as good as a shout of warning. Your attention is called to frogs in summer, they wiU croak — croak— croak, but instantly you put in an appearance, how quickly they stop. If you have had any experience with pea fowls or guinea fowlsj they are the quickest to discover anything going on. It is axiomatic among farmers who have these birds, that no noise or strange object can be around them without their giving warning. When Monte concluded that aU nature was on the alert, he thought it meet that he should be like wise, so his master was quietly notified, and he with Monte thought best to be ready for any emergency. And it was well, for shortly afterwards Monte discovered hundreds of Indians stealthily approach- ing the camp. He ran to his master's tent, who was fully prepared, and even had his horse saddled.